Sunday Words of Encouragement March 12, 2023 -- Hunger and Thirst.

This morning our Sunday School teacher shared an audio message by Dr. Lori Salierno (https://lorisalierno.com/speaking/) She founded the non-profit organization Celebrate Life International which promotes Teach One to Lead One. The message was based on the little boy who gave his lunch to Jesus who used it to feed 5,000. John 6:5-13. The point is that little is much in the hands of God. If we are living in the God space, we don’t focus on the little we have but we recognize that God it can be much if we allow God to use it. Are we willing to be available, to give God what we have available for His use?

Our service enjoyed opening worship and communion. Pastor continued his series on Living Stones with the second sermon from 1 Peter 2:1-3. Pastor reminded us that the Christ followers’ behavior and beliefs are to be based on God's word.

Verse 2(a): “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk…”
New born infants have strong hunger need. We are to be hungry for the spiritual word. We are to desire something from the Lord. When people are invited to join pyramid sales organizations, one of the key tools is repeated pep talks to feed the excitement.
We are told by Jesus himself: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.” Matthew 5:6.
Why spend resources on things that don't satisfy? We need to seek what truly can satisfy.
Faith comes from hearing the message and hearing the message comes from systematically reading the Bible. Romans 10:17. His Word is what God wants you to hear.

Verse 2(b): “…so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,…”
The Greek word for “Grow” means ‘to attain power’, ‘to bear fruit’. By growing in spiritual power, we can bear fruit for God's kingdom. We are not perfect but we should be growing.
In the book of Galatians, Paul lists nine specific behaviors – love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control – that result from the work of the Holy Spirit in a Christian’s life. Galatians 5:22-23. These behaviors help show our faith and show Christ to others. They can lead to spiritual offspring.
God initially encouraged Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply. Genesis 1:22. Pass on the good things that Christ has done for you. Does your behavior show others what it is like to be a Christian?

Verse 3: “now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” Those who know God by His touch in their lives know by experience that He is Good!
“Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” Psalm 34:8.
The more mature Christian (i.e those who have lived longer) can share their experiences to encourage young believers to trust and know that God is good.

I had several lovely video song choices and decided on this one for today.
To Know and Make Known

A Verse for Today:
Matthew 5:6 NIV
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.


Lord, please keep me hungry and thirsty for You and Your Word. Show your love through my behaviors.

Audible Book Review: Kingdoms of Sorrow, Catalyst, Book 2 by JK Franks

This was an engaging continuation of the survival problems in post-apocalyptic America.
Kingdoms of Sorrow
Catalyst, Book 2
By: JK Franks
Narrated by: Steven Varnum

Series: Catalyst, Book 2
Length: 15 hrs and 15 mins
Release date: 07-18-17
Publisher: J K Franks
Genre: Adventure, Genetic Engineering, Post-Apocalyptic
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
The fight for survival continues in book 2 of the Catalyst series.
A murderous army, an unspeakable plague and an approaching hurricane. One man will risk it all to save his community. Cities, nations, and governments lie in ruins and billions have perished. In the wake of a global apocalypse, survival has become a way of life in a world that seems intent on wiping them all out.
Among the survivors are Scott Montgomery and his friends on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi. They have struggled to hang on better than most. But growing threats - both man-made and natural - leave their chances on a razor's edge. Now with the help of uncertain alliances they must face a new danger none of them saw coming. This group, "The Messengers", are like a biblical plague, destroying everything - and everyone - in their path.
Time is short for the survivors and another grim new discovery means the Messengers may not be the only thing they should fear.
Don’t miss out on the second installment of the best-selling Catalyst series.
©2017 J K Franks (P)2017 J K Franks

Review:
This book picks up from book 1, Catalyst Downward Cycle. The story primarily follows three groups in the survival struggles. It has been five months or so since the solar flare took out the electrical grid and left Americans trying to survive pre-industrial conditions and marauding bands of criminals. Scott and Todd are in Harris Springs, Mississippi, on the Gulf of Mexico on the cruise ship that has been turned into a refuge home for 200 or so people seeking to rebuild community.

Jack, aka Preacher, is a former convict who is out on a working boat with four other men. Their job has been to forage supplies and trade with smaller farms or communities along the water ways. Things had been going well until they have to face pirate raids. Then they learn about the butchery by a large, supposedly religious group known as the Messengers. This cultish group is sweeping across the south giving people the choice to join and serve or die.

Skybox 5 is a new character. He is a special forces paramilitary operative in a very secretive group called the P-Guard. Before the electric went out, he and his team were on mission in Pakistan. They were tasked with retrieving an crucial scientist/virologist who was working in a remote university lab. Before they could get to the target, something went wrong and a deadly virus was released. Although there were efforts to contain the virus, the efforts failed miserably. Skybox is the only man who comes out alive as he is apparently immune. Now he is directed to get to the coast so he can be taken to scientists in America who can test his blood for a vaccine. Skybox ends up at a secret location that happens to include a personal friend of Scott's niece. Scott is recruited by an opposing military group to try to retrieve Skybox.

I like these characters and the mostly realistic struggles and battles. There is good character development and better action. The cult group is scary and adds additional tension and suspense. I will be looking to get the third book in the series and a side story too. Reading book 1 may not be necessary, but I think it provides better background to the characters and events. I recommend this to readers who enjoy post-apocalyptic survival stories.

Audio Notes: Steven Varnum does a good job with the narration. He delivers good character voices and I thought his energy input was better on this book than the first. I am glad to listen to this on audio.

Source: 3-3-2022 Audible Sale Purchase $3.74. This qualifies for 2023TBR, 2023Audiobook, and 2023Alphabet goals.

#NetGalley Audio Book Review: The Last Saxon King by Andrew Varga

I liked the history and mostly enjoyed this story (although there are young teen "flaws" IMHO).

The Last Saxon King
A Jump in Time Novel, Book One
By: Andrew Varga
Narrated by: Mark Sanderlin

Series: A Jump in Time Novel, Book 1
Length: 8 hrs and 49 mins
Release date: 03-07-23
Publisher: Imbrifex Books
Genre: Adventure, Teen and YA, Time Travel
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
One jump to save all time.
Life is progressing normally for sixteen-year-old Dan Renfrew when he accidentally transports himself to England in the year 1066. He soon realizes that he’s trapped there, and that’s not his only astonishing discovery. Dan learns that he’s descended from a long line of time jumpers—secret heroes who travel to the past and resolve glitches in the time stream that threaten to alter subsequent history. The only way Dan can return home is to set history back on its proper course in the Anglo-Saxon age. This is no easy task. A Viking horde is ravaging England in the north while a Norman army threatens to invade from the south. In between and desperately struggling to hold on to his throne is Harold Godwinson, the newly crowned English king. Dan is fighting to ensure that events play out correctly when he finds himself plunged into an even more lethal conflict. To save history, Dan must battle a band of malevolent time jumpers whose lust for wealth and power threatens the entire future of the world.
©2023 Andrew Varga (P)2023 Imbrifex Books

Review:
Sixteen-year-old Dan is home schooled by his professor father who has him studying all sorts of history. Dan has been sent out of the house so his father could have a private meeting at home. When Dan returns home a little earlier than expected, he finds his father in a physical sword fight. Dan stands in shock as his father tosses him a strange metal baton and tells him to “Run!” And then tells him to “say the rhyme” he has been taught since childhood. Dan doesn’t understand but will obey his father rather than give the device to this threatening man.

Dan is whisked off and finds himself in a strange land where his phone has no service. He is shouting for help when a young ‘Robin Hood’ steps out of the woods and tells him to be quiet. Sam tells Dan that he is in England in the year 1066. Sam explains that they are rare descendants of time jumpers. Sam had a brother trained for the task but Dan’s father didn’t tell him anything about the process and duties. Apparently, the time jumpers have to fix the time glitch and then can return home.

Dan isn’t physically trained but he has the historical knowledge to know the glitch when he realizes the situation. Now he has to step out and find a way to reach an Anglo Saxon king to give him battle advise. He doesn’t even have Sam to help although Sam will be hiding in the woods nearby.

I enjoyed the detailed setting and battle history and the adventures that Dan muddles through. I wasn’t crazy about the teen hormones acting up but I suppose that is realistic, especially for a boy who is probably considered a brainiac and has little social interaction at home. This also fits for the young teen target audience. On the other hand, I loved how Dan made friends along his journey and was loyal to fight for and with them. This is a fun listen and I recommend it to young teens and fans of history.

Audio Notes: Mark Sanderlin does a wonderful job with the narration. He is able to provide clear voices with distinct accents. I was glad to have the opportunity to listen to this in audio.

Source: 2022 NetGalley choice. This qualifies for 2023TBR, 2023Audiobook, 2023NetGalley, and 2023Occupation goals.

MBS February 2023 Reading List Wrap Up

 MBS 2023 Reading List - FEBRUARY

Code for the list is:
A = Audible; ABB = Audiobook Boom
e = eBook; eA = eBook from Author; eT = eBook from Tour
NG = NetGalley
P = Print; PT = Print from Tour
LBC = Ladies Book Club
TBR = From the TBR shelves prior to 2023
Favorites for the month:

5 Stars =
4.75 Stars = The Yankee Widow
4.5 Stars =  Cat o' Nine Tales, Her Cowboy Deputy

1. ATBR: Audio Book Review: To the Far Blue Mountains by Louis L'Amour; Genre: Adventure, Colonial Fiction, Historical Fiction; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.
   
2. ATBR: Audible Book Review: Cat o' Nine Tales by Faith Hunter; Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Science Fiction, Urban;My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.
   
3. ATBR: Audio Book Review: The Yankee Widow by Linda Lael Miller; Genre: Civil War, Historical Fiction, Saga; My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.75; Narration 4.75.
   
4. ATBR: Audio Book Review: Blind Search by Paula Munier; Genre: Crime Fiction & Mysteries, Mysteries & Thrillers, Police Procedurals; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.0.
   
5. ATBR: Audio Book Review: Her Cowboy Deputy by Lacy Williams; Genre: Christian Fiction, Historical Romance, Western; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.
   
6. ATBR: Audible Book Review: Exiled Fleet Publisher's Pack (Books 1-2) by Richard Fox; Genre: Adventure, Military, Space Opera; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.
   
7. ATBR: Audible Book Review: Galactic Forge by Alex Guerra; Genre: First Contact, Military, Space Opera; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.
   
8. ATBR: Audible Book Review: Introducing Agatha Raisin: The Quiche of Death and The Vicious Vet by M. C. Beaton; Genre: Amateur Detective, Cozy Mystery, Women Sleuth; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.
   

This Month:
Total read = 8
TBR = 8
New Authors = 3
Audio/Audible = 8 (8 TBRs)
NetGalley = 0 (0 audio) (0 TBRs)
Author Review books (other than NG) = 0
Nonfiction = 0
eBook = 0 (0 TBR)
Print = 0 (0 TBR)

Goal Progress (to Date meaning through the end of the given month):
Goodreads Goal Read to Date: 18 of 125
TBR to Date: 18 of 90 total
Audio to Date: 18 of 100
NetGalley to Date: 2 of 10
Author Reviews: 0 of 12
Nonfiction: 2 of 10
TBR ebooks or Print: 0 of 8

• Series: 12 of 75 (5 continuing, 7 new)
• New to me Series: 7 (3 Yes to continue; 3 likely to continue, 1 maybe, 0 unlikely)
• Finished for me Series: 1 (maybe? Not sure if the Bobiverse is done)

Special Goals
• Seasonal title: 1 of 4: Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn
• Alphabet letters covered: (15 of 26) -- 9 January (A, C, D, F, H, L, P, R, S); 6 February (B, E, G, I, T, Y)

• Locations: 2 of 8

River, Mountains

• Numbers: 2 of 12

Forging Zero, Cat o’ Nine Tales

Groups of Five:
[Places and Numbers above]
• Times of Day: 0 of 5
• Occupations: 3 of 5

Warrior, Cowboy, Vet

• Colors: 1 of 5

The Far Blue Mountains

Audible Book Review: Introducing Agatha Raisin: The Quiche of Death and The Vicious Vet By: M. C. Beaton

These amateur mystery stories were fun. (It is also an “I” title and has an Occupation in the title.)
Introducing Agatha Raisin: The Quiche of Death and The Vicious Vet
By: M. C. Beaton
Narrated by: Penelope Keith, Diana Bishop

Series: Agatha Raisin Mysteries, Book 1-2
Length: 11 hrs and 39 mins
Release date: 08-25-16
Language: English
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Genre: Amateur Detective, Cozy Mystery, Women Sleuth
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death
Putting all her eggs in one basket, Agatha Raisin gives up her successful PR firm, sells her London flat, and samples a taste of early retirement in the quiet village of Carsely. Bored, lonely, and used to getting her way, she enters a local baking contest. Despite the fact that Agatha has never baked a thing in her life, she is sure the pie she has secretly bought from an upper-crust London quicherie will make her the toast of the town. But her recipe for social advancement sours when the judge not only snubs her entry―but falls over dead!
Agatha Raisin and the Vicious Vet
Agatha Raisin hasn't quite adjusted to the slow pace of village life, or to the failure of her overtures to her handsome neighbor, James Lacey. Since the new vet in town is young and good looking, Agatha's perfectly healthy tabby endures a nasty physical exam in the name of romance. Unfortunately, his sacrifice is all for naught when the vet is soon found dead. The police call the death a freak accident, but Agatha convinces James that playing amateur detective might be fun. Unfortunately, just as curiosity killed the cat, Agatha's inept snooping is soon a motivation for murder.
©2016 M. C. Beaton (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Review:
Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death
Agatha Raisin sold her successful PR firm to fulfill a dream of retirement in the quiet English village, Carsely. She quickly learns that she is an outsider who doesn’t quite fit in. Agatha has made one friend with the local preacher’s wife who convinces her to join the ladies’ service group which meets to enjoy friendship and plan ways to raise money for good causes. In an effort to gain attention and approval, Agatha enters the club’s baking contest, where she tries to pass off a specialty quiche out of London as homemade. Her fraud may have gone unnoticed except that the clearly biased judge turns up dead the next morning after eating her left over quiche.

Agatha becomes friends with the young detective, Bill Wong, as he investigates the murder. Agatha is quick to suggest suspects, but she is also quick to run off to interview them herself. Wong tells her to stay away from the investigation but Agatha just can’t help herself. Of course, she keeps pushing until she places herself in the presence of the murderer.

Agatha Raisin and the Vicious Vet
Agatha is continuing to adjust to her life in a new, quieter community. Many of the ladies in town are interested in Agatha’s new next door neighbor, an attractive, single man, James. Agatha figures she has the advantage being next door but her interest turns into obsessive pursuit that send James hiding.

When a young good looking vet arrives in town, Agatha, and other ladies, turn their eyes to him. Agatha takes her new tabby cat for a visit only to find the vet rather rough on pet. But he does ask her out, giving her a boost of confidence. When the vet turns up dead, Agatha doesn’t think it was an accident. She soon sets off on her amateur sleuthing again, drawing James into the interviews and unauthorized investigations.

Agatha has a good eye for detail that helps her unravel clues. As in any good cozy, this gets her into trouble. I mostly enjoyed Agatha as a bright, business minded character. I say mostly because her chasing after the men in the second book became annoying to me. I like her friendship with Detective Bill Wong and her slowly growing friendship with others in the community. The mysteries are nicely plotted and made it fun to figure out the villains. I look forward to reading more in the series and I recommend this to fans of amateur, cozy mysteries.

Audio Notes: The stories were read by two different narrators, Penelope Keith and Diana Bishop. They both presented the stories with wonderful British flare and I really didn’t note the difference. I think they captured the main character well and I enjoyed both narrations. The audio enhanced my enjoyment of the stories.

Source: 7/19/2021 I picked these from the Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2023TBR, 2023Audiobook, 2023Alphabet, and Occupation goals.